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Daily Business Report — Aug. 25, 2010

Lunch With the 40 Under 40

San Diego Metropolitan Magazine’s 11th annual 40 Under 40 Awards luncheon will be held at noon on Sept. 9 in Ballroom 6 A&B of the San Diego Convention Center. Tickets are $75. Tables are $750. For tickets, contact Cyndi Meeves at (619) 906-4105. The awards honor 40 of the San Diego region’s best and brightest minds in a variety of industries. And read about the honorees in the September issue of San Diego Metropolitan.

SDSU President Stephen Weber to Retire in 2011

San Diego State University President Stephen Weber, who amassed a number of significant accomplishments for the school and suffered some embarrasing controversies during the past 14 years, will retire on July 5, 2011. Weber is the seventh president of the university, which has a student enrollment of about 35,000. The university announced Weber’s impending retirement. Weber personally informed California State University Chancellor Charles Reed of his decision. “I am so proud of what the people of San Diego State have accomplished over the past 14 years and I look forward to achieving the goals we have set for this coming year,” Weber said in a video message to the campus. Weber’s departure was not unexpected. He told faculty and staff three years ago that he intended to retire in 2011.Weber was named president in July 1996. This will be his 15th academic year at the university.

During his tenure, dozens of academic programs have been ranked among the nation’s best. SDSU has ranked as the top research university in the nation among schools with 14 or fewer Ph.D. programs for four years running. SDSU faculty members secured more than $150 million in research grants and contracts, a record for the university.

As more applications have poured in, the academic qualifications for SDSU’s incoming freshman have increased significantly from a 3.18 average GPA in 1998 (the first year data was available) to a record 3.63 for fall 2010. Average SAT scores have increased from 983 in fall 1998 to 1085 in fall 2010. Graduation rates are also at a record high, increasing 74.2 percent since 1996.

Under Weber’s leadership, SDSU has seen a sharp rise in private donations to the university. In the past 14 years, SDSU has raised more than $683 million, including more than $65 million in 2009-10, over 300 percent more than was raised in the university’s previous 99-year history. SDSU aims to raise another $75 million by July 2011.

Weber received commendations from local community leaders and politicians, among them Mayor Jerry Sanders. “During his tenure, Dr. Weber guided the university to even greater local importance by engaging in meaningful efforts to tackle real-world problems facing our region,” said Sanders. “The university’s programs to assist the homeless, provide badly needed nurses, address the childhood obesity epidemic and educate our returning veterans are just some of the ways the university helps to improve the quality of life for all San Diegans.”

Said Kit Sickels, chair of The Campanile Foundation: “President Weber has been a true leader, bringing SDSU into a new era and increasing the prominence and reputation of the university. “The university is stronger and more prepared for the future thanks to his good work.”

INDUS Technology Gets $16.6 Million Navy Contract

INDUS Technology in San Diego has been awarded a $16.6 million contract from the Naval Undersea Warfare Center to provide information technology services. The ervices would include network support, corporate customer support, help desk, computer repair and data conversion, among others. The contract is INDUS Technology’s fourth contract with the Navy center. James Lasswell is president and CEO of INDUS.

Janice Brown Seated on S.D. Regional EDC Board

Attorney Janice Brown has been named to the board of directors of the San Diego Regional EDC. The agency cited Brown’s reputation in the field of law for legal acumen, successful client advocacy and skills in preventive law. Brown has received several awards, among them: Department of Justice – Trial Lawyer of the Year: 1987; California Association of Black Lawyers – Lawyer of the Year: 1995; San Diego County Bar Association – Diversity Professional of the Year: 2003; Southern California Super Lawyer 2007, 2008, and 2009.

Wilson Named Receiver for Old Malibu Courthouse

Douglas Wilson, owner of the San Diego-based Douglas Wilson Cos., has been appointed receiver for the Old Malibu Courthouse, a landmark property located at 21355 Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu,. The one-acre parcel comprises three contiguous buildings, including a remodeled, 4,000-square-foot banquet hall with commercial kitchen, a two-story office building with 3,986 square feet of leasable space, and an adjacent restaurant (operating independently and not for sale). The offering also includes a 5,772-square-foot vacant lot, now used for parking.

Bishop to Bless St. Rose of Lima Education Center

Bishop Robert Brom of the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego is to perform a formal blessing and dedication of the new education center building at St. Rose of Lima Parish in Chula Vista on Saturday. The two-story, mission style building was designed by San Diego-based domusstudio architecture and constructed by Erickson-Hall Construction Co. The bishop’s 6 p.m. blessing will follow the 5 p.m. vigil Mass at St. Rose of Lima, located at H Street and Third Avenue in Chula Vista’s Third Avenue Village. Tours will be given during the day on Sunday, when the parish also plans a dinner for parishioners in the courtyard of the new building to celebrate the annual Feast Day of Saint Rose of Lima. Completed in time for school to start Sept. 7, the nearly 24,000-square-foot De Flores Center is one of the first phases in the church’s master plan. The education building will house school and religious education programs and is designed to be an efficient response to the parameters of the property, parish requirements and the urban location. The building accommodates kindergarten through eighth-grade parish school functions as well as continuing parish religious education programs for all age groups including adults.

BB&T-John Burnham Insurance Services Adds Staff

Jim Williams has joined BB&T-John Burnham Insurance Services as vice president and Amy K. Lindroth has joined the agency as a marketing and sales development specialist. Williams, a 20-year industry veteran will handle new business generation for the agency, a division of BB&T Insurance Services of California. Williams earned his bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University. He holds a property and casualty insurance license and the Associate in Risk Management designation. Lindroth brings more than nine years of experience as a property and casualty insurance account manager to her new role. Prior to joining the agency, she managed the marketing and services efforts for a property and casualty book of business that exceeded $1 million in revenue. Lindroth earned bachelor’s degrees from the University of San Diego. She holds property and casualty and life insurance licenses.

Nominations Sought for Tradesperson of the Year

WD-40 amd Rebuilding Together are inviting nomination for the 2010 Rebuilding Together Tradesperson of the Year — someone who adds value to his or her skilled trade industry and gives back to the community. Six finalists will be chosen from specific skilled trade categories: carpenter, electrician, HVAC/plumber, painter and roofer. One grand prize winner will receive a Super Bowl getaway for two, including air travel, lodging, game tickets and $500 in cash. The winning tradesperson also will receive $5,000 worth of products and tools courtesy of WD-40 and Sears Blue Tool Crew, and appear as a guest co-host on a live national radio broadcast of “On the House with the Carey Brothers,” which is the Tradesperson of the Year national radio partner. For more information, visit rttradespersonoftheyear.com.

The Daily Business Report is produced by REP Publishing Inc., publisher of San Diego Metropolitan Magazine, the North Park News, Kensington News and the West Coast Craftsman. (619) 906-4104.

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Voice Your Opinion

We Want Your Opinions on San Diego’s Big Issues
In the coming months, Probosky Research (one of California’s leading opinion research firms) will continue its partnership with SD METRO to survey San Diego residents about topics of interest to our readers. We’d like to throw open the door for suggestions for topics. What do you want to know? What do you think you know, but aren’t sure? What are you certain you know, but want to prove it beyond doubt? Ideally, we’d like to see questions that have to do with public policy.
Some areas may include Mayor Filner’s first 100 days job performance, should the city be responsible for economic growth and the creation of new jobs, how important are infrastructure improvements to our daily lives (streets and bridges, etc.), how important is water independence, how satisfied are residents with public transit or how do city residents value Balboa Park and other open spaces? Do you believe the City Council should revive the Plaza de Panama plan for Balboa Park?
You can email Probolsky Research directly with your ideas: info@probolskyresearch.com